Preview — Titan and the Wild Boars
by Susan Hood

Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team

Don’t miss the breathtaking true story of the international rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand!

One afternoon, eleven-year-old Titan, his friends from the Wild Boars soccer team, and their coach rode their bikes to explore local caves. They crawled through the narrow tunnels in the dark to reach the center of the cave. When they turned to gDon’t miss the breathtaking true story of the international rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand!

One afternoon, eleven-year-old Titan, his friends from the Wild Boars soccer team, and their coach rode their bikes to explore local caves. They crawled through the narrow tunnels in the dark to reach the center of the cave. When they turned to go home, heavy rains had flooded the tunnel. They were trapped!

With rising waters and monsoon season upon them, time and oxygen were running out. The world watched with bated breath as rescuers from around the globe joined forces to try to free the boys. After eighteen harrowing days, in an unprecedented effort of international teamwork, they were finally saved.

Award-winning author Susan Hood and journalist Pathana Sornhiran based this picture book on Sornhiran’s first-hand reporting of the event, and Dow Phumiruk’s beautiful illustrations bring the story to life. The book also includes a timeline and back matter with additional resources....more

Community Reviews

Based on the firsthand account by a reporter covering the amazing true story of the boys soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand. Beautiful illustrations bring to life this incredible and heroic journey. Interesting facts and timelines are found at the end of the book, all highlighting the lessons of perseverance, teamwork, encouragement and hope.

And if you are in search of new books to read, try our services, What Do I Read NexBased on the firsthand account by a reporter covering the amazing true story of the boys soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand. Beautiful illustrations bring to life this incredible and heroic journey. Interesting facts and timelines are found at the end of the book, all highlighting the lessons of perseverance, teamwork, encouragement and hope.

GRIPPING. WELL WRITTEN with illustrations and a design that make this book worthy of reading more than once. Read this aloud to your students in grades 2-5 (and maybe 1st and of course 6th). Co-authors Hood and Sornhiran and illustrator Phumiruk have made the complexity of what happened, the multi-layered problem, the intensity and urgency of the problem of rescuing these boys clear for their audience. (An important move on the writers' part was to focus in on one boy, Titan, one of the youngestGRIPPING. WELL WRITTEN with illustrations and a design that make this book worthy of reading more than once. Read this aloud to your students in grades 2-5 (and maybe 1st and of course 6th). Co-authors Hood and Sornhiran and illustrator Phumiruk have made the complexity of what happened, the multi-layered problem, the intensity and urgency of the problem of rescuing these boys clear for their audience. (An important move on the writers' part was to focus in on one boy, Titan, one of the youngest in the group at 11 years old.) The first time you read this aloud, I'd suggest not stopping to discuss much. Let the students absorb. They will be sitting on the edge of their seats, wanting you to turn the page!

THEN, if there's an opportunity, read it aloud again and give students a chance to think more deeply about how the authors and illustrator presented this story and the effect of that presentation. Here are suggestions for an INTERACTIVE (2nd) READ ALOUD -

*Start by letting students look closely at the endpapers. Ask small groups of students to consider this question - "Why do you think the authors and illustrators placed this map of the cave at the beginning and end of the book? What does it automatically reveal to the reader?"* Read aloud the first page that describes Titan, his friends, his love of soccer. Ask, "Why do you think the authors chose to focus on one boy? What do the authors do on the first page that helps you the reader begin to connect?"*On the two-page layout that begins "TRAPPED!" read aloud the text (which appears to be written as a poem for this page) or project so that all students can see and read for themselves. Pose this question for student-led discussions, "How does the poem and illustration reveal the magnitude of the problem?" You could pose this same question at several other points like for the two-page layout that begins "Days 5-9" and illustrates the divers making their way through two parts of the cave. You might add, "What do the authors and illustrators do to develop the idea that the rescue would be difficult and dangerous?"*At several points, Hood and Sornhiran include quotes from The Buddha like "When watching after others, you watch after yourself" and "Give even if you only have a little." You might post a two-page layout with the quote and ask students to consider why the authors chose that quote for that particular part of the story.

ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO WRITE-ILLUSTRATE-CREATE A RESPONSE. Other questions you might pose for discussion or for students to discuss and then write/illustrate in response -*What was an important part of this story for you? Why?*How did the rescuers PERSEVERE?*How does the poem "Teamwork" on the last page of the story relate to the story as a whole?

READ OR VIEW ADDITIONAL SOURCES. Encourage students to ask, "What am I adding to what I already know?" Hood and Sornhiran include YouTube links in their notes. I watched (part of) the one when the boys were first discovered by the divers. Oh, my!

USE THIS AS A MENTOR TEXT - LOVED how Hood and Sornhiran embedded poetry, quotes from The Buddha, headings with the "days," additional note about what happened (in authors' notes), additional fascinating facts, etc. The illustrator also included primary sources - letters from parents to the boys, from the boys to the parents, news headlines--in English and in Thai. There's so many aspects of this book that young writers could explore and then incorporate into their own writing.

WOOHOO!!!! SUSAN HOOD is a GO-TO AUTHOR for me. Loved her books Ada's Violin and Shaking Things Up. DOW PHUMIRUK is a GO-TO ILLUSTRATOR for me. Loved the illustrations in Counting on Katherine. So glad to have met PATHANA SORNHIRAN as a writer....more

This is AN INCREDIBLE informational book, mentor text, and story. Brought to life by Susan Hood and Pathana Sornhiran, with fantastic illustrations by Dow Phumiruk, this is the story the Thai soccer boys deserve. The back matter is especially helpful, as are the maps on the end pages! I couldn’t stop reading, and when I got to the parts where poetry and quotes were integrated, my heart sighed with happiness. I can teach all the things with this book. Or I can just read it because it’s awesome inThis is AN INCREDIBLE informational book, mentor text, and story. Brought to life by Susan Hood and Pathana Sornhiran, with fantastic illustrations by Dow Phumiruk, this is the story the Thai soccer boys deserve. The back matter is especially helpful, as are the maps on the end pages! I couldn’t stop reading, and when I got to the parts where poetry and quotes were integrated, my heart sighed with happiness. I can teach all the things with this book. Or I can just read it because it’s awesome in the true sense of the word. Most likely, I’ll do both....more

TITAN AND THE WILD BOARS tells the true story of the trapped soccer team and their rescue in the caves of Thailand. Chanin, nicknamed Titan after the mythological powerful creatures for his strength, was one of the youngest members of his soccer team at 11 years old. One day, after soccer practice, the boys and their coach went into a cave to explore, crawling through the narrow tunnels.

TITAN AND THE WILD BOARS tells the true story of the trapped soccer team and their rescue in the caves of Thailand. Chanin, nicknamed Titan after the mythological powerful creatures for his strength, was one of the youngest members of his soccer team at 11 years old. One day, after soccer practice, the boys and their coach went into a cave to explore, crawling through the narrow tunnels.

However, it began to rain and the narrow tunnels flooded. They were trapped, and their coach directed them to a raised ledge where they stayed for ten days before rescuers were able to find them by diving through the tunnels. They drank water from the cave but did not have any food. They needed time to gain strength before diving out with the rescuers, made more complicated by the time pressure of another coming storm. One rescuer, Saman Kunan, died while trying to rescue the boys.

However, luckily and slowly the boys were all brought out of the cave alive. Titan was one of the last to be rescued, but the story has an overall happy ending. The picture book includes realistic illustrations of the boys all along the way as well as plenty of narrative facts, some poems, and additional information about the timeline, facts of the rescue, and question/answers with two of the divers.

What I loved: What a great way to bring a story to life! The narrative format with a main character appeals to a younger audience. This picture book is a little wordier than others, so I would recommend for older (elementary school aged) readers who can really understand the plot and stick with this unique (and true!) story. This would be a great book for the classroom where educators could start discussions about survival, dangerous situations, and how the boys felt as well as the complications of their situation and rescue.

Final verdict: Great for a classroom setting, this picture book uses an engaging narrative style, poems, and realistic illustrations to bring the true story of the trapped soccer team and their rescue to a young audience. Would recommend for elementary school aged children who enjoy non-fiction and exploring stories they have heard about on the news further....more

Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team is a children's picture book written by the team of Susan Hood and Patthana Sornhiran and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, which tells the true story of the Tham Luang Cave Rescue.

The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, lyrical, and informational. It follow the remarkable true story of eleven-year-old Titan, his teammates, and their soccer coach who went exploring the Tham Luang Caves in Chiang Rai, Thailand, only to becoTitan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team is a children's picture book written by the team of Susan Hood and Patthana Sornhiran and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, which tells the true story of the Tham Luang Cave Rescue.

The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, lyrical, and informational. It follow the remarkable true story of eleven-year-old Titan, his teammates, and their soccer coach who went exploring the Tham Luang Caves in Chiang Rai, Thailand, only to become trapped inside by monsoon rains. This book marries Hood’s lyrical text with Sornhiran's first hand-accounts. An introduction, timeline, and extensive back matter are included. Phumiruk's illustrations are phenomenally well done and depict the narrative extremely well.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It simply retells the harrowing tale about how the Wild Boars, the soccer team, got trapped in a cave after a monsoon as they wait their rescue. Firsthand accounts, extensive back matter, and timeline gives a detailed account of the Tham Luang Cave Rescue of 2018.

All in all, Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team is a wonderful children's book about how a group of children and an adult got trapped in a cave and their story that went worldwide....more

Childrens nonfiction. This book tells the amazing true story of the Thai soccer team that got trapped in a cave and the international team that rescued them. There is a map of the cave on the endpapers that shows just how complicated the rescue mission was. A young soccer coach and his team rode their bikes to explore a cave after soccer practice. An early monsoon came and flooded the cave, blocking their exit. The group of boys and their coach were stuck in the dark, with no food and very limitChildrens nonfiction. This book tells the amazing true story of the Thai soccer team that got trapped in a cave and the international team that rescued them. There is a map of the cave on the endpapers that shows just how complicated the rescue mission was. A young soccer coach and his team rode their bikes to explore a cave after soccer practice. An early monsoon came and flooded the cave, blocking their exit. The group of boys and their coach were stuck in the dark, with no food and very limited water for 16-18 days (the boys were rescued in shifts). It took divers, NAVY seals, and scientists from around the world to coordinate the rescue. An amazing story of teamwork and perseverance in the face of difficulty, this story is beautifully illustrated as well. Told mostly in prose, but there are a few verses of poetry at particularly important moments. Back matter includes a more exact timeline, facts, more information, an interview with some of the divers, and a list of additional sources....more

We are captivated by events in our communities, cities, states and country, some more than others as a result of personal connections. We have, along with many others, felt much joy and deep sadness, laughed until we cry and wept uncontrollably and known unbearable loss. As citizens of the world, we find ourselves missing a lot of happenings but some capture not only our attention but the attention of people around the globe. We watch and feel with a collective consciousness.

One event, lasting eWe are captivated by events in our communities, cities, states and country, some more than others as a result of personal connections. We have, along with many others, felt much joy and deep sadness, laughed until we cry and wept uncontrollably and known unbearable loss. As citizens of the world, we find ourselves missing a lot of happenings but some capture not only our attention but the attention of people around the globe. We watch and feel with a collective consciousness.

One event, lasting eighteen days, kept the world riveted to any available access to the news. Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, May 7, 2019) written by Susan Hood and Pathana Sornhiran with illustrations by Dow Phumiruk is a moving, memorable and accurate account of those eighteen days. Once you begin this reading the words and pictures will hold you fast until the final page.

What an amazing view into a harrowing current event story. Many kids might not know about this small group of boys from Thailand who survived the early flooding of a cave they were exploring! It showed courage, fear, and perseverance. It shows kids how strong they can be in the face of adversity and just every day. I learned things I didn't know about that team of kids and their ordeal. Truly an incredible piece of our modern history! The story and illustrations had me captivated the minute I stWhat an amazing view into a harrowing current event story. Many kids might not know about this small group of boys from Thailand who survived the early flooding of a cave they were exploring! It showed courage, fear, and perseverance. It shows kids how strong they can be in the face of adversity and just every day. I learned things I didn't know about that team of kids and their ordeal. Truly an incredible piece of our modern history! The story and illustrations had me captivated the minute I started to read. ...more

A truly remarkable book about the astounding international rescue operation. Susan Hood writes in clear, concise and beautiful prose the against-all-odds survival. The rescue effort was complicated and Hood does a phenomenal job in weaving a clear, concise and emotional narrative. Focusing on the youngest and smallest player, we gain an understanding of the immense risks taken by the rescuers and the magnitude of the effort. This is a wonderful book about courage, strength, faith and teamwork. AA truly remarkable book about the astounding international rescue operation. Susan Hood writes in clear, concise and beautiful prose the against-all-odds survival. The rescue effort was complicated and Hood does a phenomenal job in weaving a clear, concise and emotional narrative. Focusing on the youngest and smallest player, we gain an understanding of the immense risks taken by the rescuers and the magnitude of the effort. This is a wonderful book about courage, strength, faith and teamwork. Absolutely loved it!!

For anyone who knows how long it takes to publish a picture book (usually 2-3 years), the release of this book less than a year after the actual incident is astounding. The gripping story comes alive with the finely detailed illustrations of the underground world we previously could only imagine. I’m so glad this powerful story of resilience and the world coming together on the rescue mission will be on the shelves of libraries everywhere!

Wonderful book about the Thai boys rescue from 2015. 23 boys and their coach were caught in a cave after a flood and they survived for a half a month until they could be brought out. Heartwarming story of Thai kids and coach who wee trapped while the world waited. Three boys and the coach were stateless refugees and risked deportation to an unknown country of ever caught. Great addition that Thailand granted the boys and coach permanent citizenship after their ordeal.

The five is more for the illustrations and the several afterwards than the story, which is straight forward and if you had watched the news, you know it already. Good for a classroom, not necessarily for a soccer fan or a read-aloud. Possible older child (due to the length) might be curious about the subject matter. However, even though there is a lot of text and really meant for the older child, the picture book format could turn some kids off.

June 23, 2018, Titan, his coach, and his soccer team explored a cave in Thailand. Unbeknownst to them, the monsoon season would come early and put their lives in critical danger. Trapped in the cave for many days, a massive rescue was put into place to help save all of them. The whole world watched the heroics of the divers, and the boys.

The story of the Thai soccer team that was trapped in a cave for 18 days and the rescue mission that started out as Mission Impossible and ended up as Mission Accomplished. The author includes poetry as part of the story.

Includes an interview with 2 of the British divers, a timeline, a bibliography and extensive additional information in the back of the book.

Amazing collaboration about an event that was highly emotional and dangerous. Written specifically for a younger audience, young readers will be amazed at what these young soccer players and their coach went through and the dedication of the people who saved them.